Fluid-clutch.



J. C. CARPENTER.

FLUID CLUTCH.

APPLoATIoN HLBD Nov.14, 1910.

1,033,048. Patented July 1.6, 1912 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

Q1 TTORNE .l

J. C. CARPENTER.

FLUID CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.14, 1910.

1,033,048. Patent-ea July 16, 1912.

4 SHEETS*SHEBT 3.

@f f .MMM

VJU. CARPENTER.

FLUID CLUTCH.l I APPLICATION FIpED NOV.14., 1910.

1,033,048. f Patented Ju1y16,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I'VTNESSES:

/ .f/ v BWV- y A. TORNEI/5 `JOHN C. CRPENTER, 0F HOUSTON HEIGHTS', TEXAS.

FLUID-ommen.

Application filed November 14, 1910. Serial No. 592,164.

YT0 all whom t frnay concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. CAnrniy'rER, a citizen. of the United States, residlng at Houston Heights, in the county of Harris. and State of Texas, have invented certain4 new and useful Improvements in Fluid-` Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in fluid clutches' and belongs to that class of power transmission mechanism wherein a cylinder and a piston, having an annular working 4chamber therebetween, and having a common axis of rotation, each carry abutments normally blocking said 4working chamber and adapted to compress or expand a working Huid upon the relative rotation of said cylinder and piston.

The object of the invention is to produce a clutch, of the cha.acter described, `which will possess great pow-er and at the saine' time be light and durable and capable of being readily declutched andl also gradually engaged so Ias to translnit any part or all of the'power of the prime moverv without shock or jar and without the frictional loss common to .friction-clutches. lVith the above and other objects 'in vi w my invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, and operation hereinafter described in this specication and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whichare 'made a part thereof,

Figure 1 is a side elevation `of my device I' with the casing and two of the cylinders,

and the working parts thereof, shown in section. Fig.` 2 isl a perspective View of the valve, and the seat therefor inthe piston.

I Fig. 3 is a plan View of the clutch with the ence designate similar parts in each of the figures, a four cylinder mechanism is shown wherein the ,numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 designate, respectively, tandem cylinders and the nu- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1912.

merals 5, 6, 7, Vand 8 refer to circular pistons having the same axis of rot-ation as the said cylinders. Y

V The numerals' 9, 10, 11, and* 12 refer, i'e-- spectively, to annular working chambers between the cylinder walls 5 of. the respective pistons. l

The numerals/13;l4, 15, and 16, respecand theperiphery tively,rr-toeylindrical recesses in the respective cylinders, provided for the purpose vof receiving rotary abutments 17,l 18, 19

and 20, vwhich are in rolling contact with their respectivel pistons.

vThe numeral 21 refers to an. end plate to cylinder l, Xed upon driving shaft 22 and lformirg a bearing 23 for the driven-shaft 211, upon which mounted.

The numeral 25 refers to an end plate of cylinder 4 which is provided With an independently rotatable sleeve 25 which serves as a supporting bearing for the shaft 24.

The cylinders 1 and 2 are separated by the partition 26, and'in' like manner the cylinders 2 and Sand 3 ande are separated, respectively, by partitionsA 27 and 28, these partitions separat-ing also, the annular working chambers and the respective pistons operating thereinf Thei'cylinders, l, 2,13, and 4:, end plates' 21 and 25; and partitions 26, 27, .and 28,",form the outer and side walls of the annular w'orking chambersl 9, 10, 11 and 12 and are held together by bolts 29. The' rotary abutli'ients are each, provided wit-h peripheral pockets, all similar, the pocket of abutment 20, being shown in Fig. 3 and designated as 20a. These pockets are adapted to 'register' with corresponding piston abutments, projecting from the periphery of the respective pistons, the abutment 'carried by pistonS being shown in Fig. 3

and designated by the reference character 8a.

the' pistons are rigidly These piston abutments contact with the outer land side walls of their respective working chambers, 9, 10, 1.1 and 12. The rotaryl abutments 17, 18, 19 and 2O are mounted, respectively, on shafts 30, 31, 32 and 33, which are supported by end. plates 21 and 25, 'and arc driven by a niaster gear 34, which meshes with like gears 35 35,36, 37 and 3,8 carried respectively, by shafts 30 3l, 32 and 33.' These gears are heart shaped, so :is tolgive variable motion to the rotary abutments, the greatest acceleration piston abutments.

occurring at the period when the peripheral pockets rregieter with .theireorresponding By the 'use of this special form of gear, and the provision for accelerated motion at this point smaller peripheral pockets may be used, than would otherwise he required and there is, consequently, less .time for the esoaiement ot the fluid from with, and are primarily intended to support and' brace their respective valves. These abutnients are provided with ports 5p, so as to permit the passage of the working tluid therethrough unless closed by their` respective valves. The outer portion olf the torward side ot the grooves carried by pistons 5, 6, 7, 8 are inclined, Slightly, toward their respective valves so that said valves will have a bevel vseat and a wedge etlect. The valves are operated hy means ot a lever 39 operating' a sleeve l() sliding on shaft @at in the usual manner, and operating connecting rod 41 and bell cranks l-Q, 43 44 and 45, said bell @ranke bei. 'l' pivoted on the rotary n J g u iston and havin@A one arm ot eaeh hmfred to said rod i-i, and the other arm engaging with a pin projecting from each of the valve stems 5f. 'lfheee stems 5f, extend in- .f'ardly and are integral with their respective valves, and by manipulation o't lever 39 a reciprocating` motion may be imparted to the valve through the rod dit and the bell cranks and valve ,atenas just described.

it is readily obvious that the. piston abut-I ments may be omitted and the annular working chambers'may be 'blocked and unblocked by means ot` the valves, in which asc a heavy oil may be used as the working fluid. lVhen the valve is withdrawn into the piston the clutch tully deelutehed except t`or the 'rietion ot the moving parts with eaeh other and with the, oil. 1When the valve 1s projected entirely to the cylinder wall, the iiu'ompressibihty ot the oll renders the clutchl positive in its clutching otleet,

slippingl only as the oil .may be 'forced past either abutment or past the edge oi the pistons. Between these two extremes the clutching' ett'eet may be varied at the will ol" the operator, the clutch transmitting all ot the power to the driven member, which is delivered by the driving member.

The rotary abutmentsmr the several cylinder are eet 90 apart so'that only one cylinder may be under lull compression at a time.v This styleot eluteh is deeigned,

the entire range Yfrom Zero to direct drive from the engine.

Having described my engine and' designated its individual parts, will now describe its ipninciple and mode of operation When the engine is running and the-driving member is rotating', it the valves are withdrawn into the pistons, the pistone will o'lfel no resistance, except surface friction7 to the rotation ot the cylinders or the oil carried around with the cylinders by the rotary' abutments. When the valve is released by the operation of the lever 89 and forced out beyond the periphery of the piston,

ventI the rotary abutments tromjcarrying the oil around the piston. When the valve contacts `with the cylinder Vall, vthe oil trapped between the piston and rotary abutmentev is compressed until the piston is forced to rotate, by reason of said com ession, in harmony with the cylinder. W enever the resistance ot the piston abutments to the rotation ot1 the oil aboutthe pistons exceeds the resistance opposing the traction movement the vehicle will begin to move, and the greater the. ratio between piston abutment resistance and traction resistance' the greater will bethe speed.

What I claim is:

this movement of the valve tends to prel. In a fluid clutch, the eon'ibination with i a 'casing and ay rotary piston having an an-v niular working chamber therebetween; ot a.4 valve carried byl said piston for 'blocking said annular' working' chamber; a rotary abutment carried by said easing and 'normally blocking said annular working chamber but provided with a peripheral pocket to permit the passage oi .said valve, means;l for rotating said rotary abut-mentI at such Speed relativeV to said piston as to causesaid valve to register with said pocket, and means for operating' said valve.

2. ln a Huid clutch, the combination with a .asing and a rotary piston having an annular working;` chamber therebetween; ot' a sliding valve carried by said pistonfor blockingr said annular workingv chamber; a rotary abutment carried by said easing and normally blocking said annular working chamber but provided with a peripheral pocket to permit the passage of said valve; means for rotating said rotarv abutment at such a speed relative to said piston as to provide/l with a seat, a guide for said valve f whose operative face is inclined to the seat' of the valve; a rotaiyabutment carriedby said casing and normally blocking said annular working chamber and provided with a peripheral pocket to permit the passage of said valve; means for rotating said rotary abutment in proper relation to said piston, and meansV for operating said valve.

4. In a device vof the character described the combination with a casing and a rotary piston, having -an annular Working chamber therebetween; of a valve carried by said piston and arranged to reciprocate so as to bloc-k and unblock -said annular working' chamber; a rotary abutment carried by said casing and normally blocking'said chamber and provided with a peripheral pocket to permit the passage of the valve; means for rotating said rotary abutment at such a speed relative to saidpiston as to cause said i valve to register with said-pocket and means for operating said valve.y l t 5. In a device'of the `character described, the combination with a casing and a rotary piston having an annular working'. chamber therebetween; ofh a piston abutment carried by said piston and spanning said chamber and arranged to reciprocate relative to said abutment andclose and open the `port thereof and thereby blockand unblock said chamber; ajrotary abutment carried by' said casing and normally blocking said chamber but provided with a peripheral pocket arranged to register with said piston abutment andpermit the passage thereof around said chamber; means for rotating said rotary abutment at such a speed relative to said piston as to cause said piston abutment to register with said peripheral 'pocket and means for operating said valve.

6. In a device of the character described the combination with a casing and a rotary piston liaying an annular working chamber therebetween; of a piston abutment carried by said piston and spanning said working chamber said piston member being provided with a port leading from oneside to the other of the piston abutment; a valve carried by said piston and arranged to open and close said port; a rotary abutment carried by said casing and normally blocking said working chamberand being provided With a peripheral pocket to permit the pasv".age of the piston abutment; a means for being provided with a `port therei through; a valve carried by said piston and I andnormallyl blocking, sai

rotating said rotary abutment variably, relative to saidpi-ston, said means being soarranged as to accelerate the movement of said rotary abutment during the passage of said piston abutment -through said pocket, and means for operating said valve.

7. In a fiuid clutch, the combination with a casing and a rotary piston having an an-v nular working chamber therebetween; of a valve carried by one of said members, adapted to`block and unblock said chamber;

a. rotary abutment,`carried by` the-other of y said members, and normally 4blocking said chamber and provided with a peripheralpocket to `permit the passage of the valve; means `for rotating said rotary abutment,

relativetothe valve-carrying member `so as `to cause saidvalve and pocket to register and means'for operating said valve.

8. A fluid clutch including` two relatively rotatable membershaving'an annular work# ing chamber therebetween; a meanscarred by oneof said members,"adaptedto block and unblock` vsaid Working chamber; a rotary abutment,l carried bythe other of said members, and normally-blocking said working chamberand provided with a peripheral pocket to permit the passage of said blocking and unblocking means; A,means for rotating said rotary abutment ,in such a manner as to cause said pocket-toregisterwith said blocking and unblocking means.

9. A" fluid clutch including two relatively y rotatable members having an'annular work- 'ing chamber therebetween; a valve carried -by o'neof said members adapted to block and unblock said chamber; a rotary abut` ment, carried` byv the other of said members,V

chamber and provided with a peripheral pocket` to per mit the passage of 'said valve, and a system of gears operatively connectedv with said rotary abut-ment and so arranged as to impart variable motion thereto and to accelerate the motion said vvalve `through said pocket.

' 10. In a `device of the character described the combination .with a; casing and a'rotary piston, having anannularwvorking cham#l ber therebetween; of a valve carried by said pistonand arranged to reciprocate so as to block and unblock said annular working chamber; an abutment'carried by' said casing andnormally blocking said chamber,

and adapted to permit the passage of said' `valve, and means for'operating said-valve.

11. In a. fluid clutch, the combination with Aa casing and a rotary pistonA having an annular working chamber therebetween; of an abutment carried byone of said members and spanning said Working ch'amber,1said member being provided with a port leading thereof during the passage of4 from one side to the other of the abutment;

a valve carried byA said vmember and* arranged to open and close said port; a rotary abutment carried by the other of said members and normally blocking said working chamber and being provided with a peripheral pocket to permit the passa Aege of the tirst mentioned abutn'ient; means for rotating said rotary abutment, relative to the tiret mentioned member so as to cause said first mentioned abutment and said peripheral poeket to register; and means for operating said valve.

l2. ln a 'tlnid elutel'i, the combination with two relatively rotatable members, having` a working eliamber therebetween; of a sliding valve carried by one of saidY members and arranged to liilook and unbloek said working chamber; a rotary abutment carried by the other ot.' said members ant1 normally blocking' said working Chamber7 and provided with a peripheral pocket to permit the passage of said valve; means for rotatiner said rotary abutment: relative to the valvoearrying member so as to Cause said valve and pocket to register; and a means for relfrulating the operation ot said valve. .ln a tluid eluteli, the Combination with two relatively :rotatable members, having, a workingv chamber therebetween; one oi said members beine` provided with a slot;

oi a valve slidingl in said slot and arranged te bleek and unbloek said workingr chamber; a rotary abutment carried by thev other of said members and normally blocking' said Workin;l chamber, and provided with alperipheral poeket to permit the passage of said valve; means` 'tor rotating said rotary abut-y ment relative to the'valve-carrying member so as to cause` said valve and pocket to register; and a means for regulating4v the operation of said valve.

14. lin a 'tluid eluteh, the Combination with tivo relatively .rotatable members, hav? ino a working Chamber therebetween, oneV ol.' said members beine' 'provided with a radial slot; ot a valve slidiirey in said slot and arranged to bleek and 'unbloek said working chamber; a rotary abutment earried bv the other ol' said members and nor mally bloeki'ug said working ehamber, and

rossana provided With a' peripheral pocket to permit the passage of said valve; means for rotating said rotary abutment relative to the valvesearrying member, so as to cause said valve and pocket Ato'regist'er; and Va means for regulating the operation of said valve. 15. .ln a fluid clutch, the combination with two relatively rotatable members7 having a Working chamber therebetween, one of said members being' provided with a radial slot; of a valve sliding, radially in said slot and arranged to bleek and unbloek said working chamber; a rotary abutment earried by the other of said members and normally blockingsaid working chamber, and provided with a peripheral poeke` to permit the passage el said falve; means for rotating said rotary abutment relative to the valve-Carrying member so as to eause said valve and pocket to register; and a means for regulating` the operation of said valve.

16.111 a fluid Clutch, the combination with two relatively rotatable members, havingjY a working` Chamber'therebetween, one of said members being provided with a slot; ot' a valve slidingv in said slot and arranged to block and unbloek said working; chamber; a valve actuating means operatively eonneeted thereto and actuatingy said valve at an angle to the path of movement of said valve actuating.;l means; a rotary abutment. Acarried by the other o't said members and 4normally blogking said working, chamber .and provided with a peripheral pocket to permit the passage of said valve; means for rotating said rotary abutment relative to the valve carrying' member, so as to cause Said valve and pocket to register; and a means for regulating the operation of said 1alve actuating means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subseribing witnesses.

JOI-IN C. CARPENTER.

llitnesses y J. W'. YEAGLEY, A. TOMPKINS. 

